About This Quiz
Much more than a simple toy, Barbie is the inspirational career woman who teaches girls they can do anything — while showing off a figure that's pure fantasy. Take our quiz to test your knowledge of Barbie's history, triumphs and controversies.Creator Ruth Handler released the first Barbie doll, which was named after her daughter, in 1959.
Mattel sold a whopping 300,000 dolls that first year at $3 a piece. Not bad for a time when the average annual wage was just $5,000.
The first Barbie was marketed as a teenage fashion model and came clothed in a stylish black and white swimsuit.
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In Barbie's earliest years, she was available as both a blond and a brunette. In 1961 a red-haired model was added to the mix.
Barbie Millicent Roberts grew up in the fictional town of Willows, Wisconsin. Incidentally, Ken has a last name too: Carson.
The earliest Barbie's eyes were demurely directed to the side. It wasn't until the Malibu Barbie in 1971 that Barbie's eyes faced forward.
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Rocker Barbie was the lead singer of Barbie and the Rockers, a band influenced by the big hair and wild style of the '80s generation.
According to the official Barbie website, Barbie has three sisters: Skipper, Stacie and Chelsea. Midge is her best friend, but the two are unrelated.
After 43 wonderful years together (without a wedding), Barbie and Ken split in 2004. They got back together in 2011.
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Ruth Handler picked up several copies of the Bild Lilli doll on a trip to Europe and used them as a model for Barbie. Bild Lilli was a pinup-style doll sold at bars and tobacco shops as a gag-gift for men.
Share a Smile Becky was released in 1997 and came complete with a wheelchair. While it was nice in theory, some buyers complained that the chair wouldn't actually fit in the elevator at Barbie's Dream House.
The first Astronaut Barbie came out in 1965, four years before Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins made their famous moon landing.
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Barbie has had more than 180 careers, from dog walker to surgeon. Not bad for a high school grad from Wisconsin.
World-record holder Bettina Dorfmann is the proud owner of more than 15,000 dolls, the world's largest collection. She also runs a doll hospital to repair broken Barbies.
Totally Hair Barbie, in all her '90s glory, is the best-selling Barbie of all time. Her hair measures 10.5 inches (26.7 centimeters), which is pretty long for a doll that's only 11.5 inches tall.
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Barbie and Tanner were released in 2006 but recalled just a year later when the magnets used in the pooper scooper started coming lose, posing a choking hazard for kids.
In 2013 Taipei launched a Barbie-themed cafe with tables shaped like high-heeled shoes and plenty of pink.
Check your attics and basements — the original Barbie can be worth five figures to the right collector.
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Barbie's first pet was a beautiful chestnut horse named Dancer that was released in 1971.
Clad in her iconic black-and-white striped suit, Barbie graced the cover of the "Sports Illustrated" swimsuit edition in 2014 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the magazine.
Ken came out in 1961, two years after Barbie. He was named after Ruth Handler's son, which makes the real-life Barbie and Ken brother and sister.
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After her split from Ken, Barbie had a fling with Blaine, a tanned Australian surfer.
The 2002 Happy Family Midge doll came with a removable stomach and newborn baby. After parents complained, Wal-Mart and other retailers pulled the doll from shelves.
Barbie got bendable legs and eyes that actually open and close in 1964.
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Barbie would have a 39-inch bust, 18-inch waist and 33-inch hips, far from the American average.
The average Barbie collector is a 40-year old woman who buys 20 dolls a year, proving Barbie isn't just for kids anymore.
Barbie was navel-free until Jewel Girl Barbie came out in 2000. This doll features a more athletic build than the traditional Barbie, complete with a flexible waist and a belly button.
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The 2009 Totally Stylin' Tattoos Barbie faced plenty of controversy. A year earlier, parents complained about a Harley Davidson-themed doll with a giant tattoo on its back.
Since Barbie got adjustable ankles in 2015, she is no longer a slave to high heels.
Mattel has sold more than a billion Barbies since the doll was introduced. The company maintains sales of around a billion dollars annually, which proves that love for Barbie is still going strong.
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